"The Prom," written by Marti Noxon, season three, episode 54.
"We're not good friends. We never got the time to get to know you. But that didn't mean we haven't noticed you. We don't talk about it much but it's no secret that Sunnydale High isn't like a lot of high schools. A lot of weird stuff happens here."
"Zombies!"
"Hyena people!"
"Synder!"
"...We're proud to say the class of 99 offers its thanks and gives you this. It's from all of us, and it has written here, 'Buffy Summers, Class Protector.'"
"For God's sake, man, she's 18 and you have the emotional maturity of a blueberry scone. Just have at it, will you, and stop fluttering about."
"I had no idea that children—en masse—could be so gracious."
"People can surprise you."
After the heaviness and darkness of "The Wish," "The Prom" comes as a welcome, light relief. It takes Buffy two minutes at most to take care of the hell hounds. Tucker Wells, the creator of the hell hounds, is subdued in three seconds ( his brother Andrew will become in seasons six and seven a pathetic nemesis to Buffy and then an equally pathetic ally—but funny as all get out). So again, the conflict, the drama, is not the snarling monsters, but something else... I've always enjoyed this episode with everyone looking so sharp and handsome or pretty, with Giles' great smack down of fellow watcher Wesley (above), and the romantic, wordless, dance between Buffy and Angel (no loud, smacking kisses for once). The show never is condescending to its young protagonists—as Giles says above, kids can be gracious—and one could argue that one of the themes the show proposes, like a modern Peter Pan, is the inevitable sadness of growing up.
So: what was your reaction to the episode? What stood out to you—and why? And what is, to you, the conflict or drama of this episode? What does it say about Buffy's journey to adulthood—or college, as will happen, for a little while, in season four?
Tomorrow, we'll watch the last half of "Graduation Day, Part II," as Sunnydale HS class of 99 finally gets to graduate, but still have to deal with the ascension of the Mayor at the same time; then, we'll look at an episode of Angel where Buffy visits him in L.A. See you all then.
I thought this episode was enjoyable. The first thing that I can think of that still stands out for me (even after this long weekend) was that Wesley was interested in Cordelia which is kind of disgusting ( barely legal much?) But he always struck me as kind of a sleaze bag anyway so I wasn’t terribly surprised. As you mentioned above, the show is kind of like a modern peter pan in terms of the pain of growing up, and I noticed this especially as Buffy literally fights for the others to have a youthful experience like the prom. I also noticed she never mentions wanting herself to have a “normal prom”, suggesting that she might think its too late for her to have any semblance of innocence. This is probably because of her breakup with Angel, where she finally realizes that they can’t be together because of their differing natures. She finally has to make that grown-up decision to stay away. Throughout the episode we can tell that she feels the pain from that loss of innocence, and we can understand her reason for fighting so hard to give the others a normal prom, one memorable night where they are free to be young and don’t have to help her with her adult responsibilities like destroying the forces of evil. She wins that fight (within three seconds I might add) but loses the fight to keep her own innocence, which gives most of the episode a somber mood. This makes the ending where the kids give Buffy a class protector award extremely powerful, because it is essentially the kids recognizing her efforts to protect their innocence (not to mention there lives) and they are thanking her for her sacrifices. All in all, it becomes a memorable night for Buffy, just not in the way she expected.
ReplyDelete1) To me, “The Prom” made me realize that all Buffy really wants is a normal life. She cannot have one, of course, because she’s the Slayer. I really liked this episode because it demonstrated that Buffy is a real person, she has real feelings and is not just a figurehead. She is not someone Wesley and Giles can just use for defense. What really stood out to me was the annoyance Giles had for Wesley. He really wanted Wesley out of his hair. This was good for Wesley and Cordelia, but not for Xander, even though he brought Anya. The conflict in this episode is that Angel wants to do the right thing and be honest to Buffy, so he tells her that they cannot be together. The dialogue is almost parallel to a scene from “I Only Have Eyes for You.” Buffy will go into adulthood/college heartbroken and upset, but also the burden of Slaying.
ReplyDeleteOverall, I liked this episode but it didn’t hold onto my full attention like some of the previous episodes we’ve watched. To be completely honest, this episode was too predictable. I knew exactly what was going to happen before the event actually occurred (And yes, I’m one of the few who hasn’t watched this show before the short term class). I did enjoy how they wrapped this season with the Prom, considering Prom is a big deal for seniors in High School and as the three years you aren’t a senior in high school you strongly prepare and look forward to prom. I may sound like some intense movie critic, but the whole conflict in this episode was that the little nerdy kid had planned a scheme of letting out horrible monsters into the prom; his motive being the rejection by a girl when asking her to the prom. I liked this idea, but the whole idea and conflict just blew away in an instant. Buffy stood outside the school, killed the three monsters in under 3 minutes and resumed her fun at the prom. It all seemed to have gone by way to fast for me, and that took away a lot of the fun of watching this episode. My only thought on why the director chose that route of having a two minute fight and quickly return to the prom was because they didn’t want that to ruin the feeling of prom for these high school students and they really wanted to focus on how important it was for them. Besides the monsters being a conflict in this episode, the other conflicts are the relationships, once again that continue to be a huge part of growing up for these characters. I knew that Angel was going to come back to Buffy for the Prom so that wasn’t that big of a deal as what they might have set it out to be. However, the thing that I enjoyed the most was the ending when the last prize was given to Buffy, as she was the “Class Protector”. Buffy is finally rewarded for all she’s done and I think she finally gets the realization that’s she won by getting peoples appreciation.
ReplyDeleteI think that this episode really reinforced how, in a world filled with unrealistic monsters, it is the burden of reality that really puts a stress on Buffy. Buffy and her friends live day to day. After each battle they relax for a little bit and celebrate their successes, conscious that there will be many more confrontations but hesitant to worry about the future. Buffy knows that she is destined to be a slayer for the rest of her life but, other than that, she does not worry about her future at all. Especially with Angel, she is very focused on prolonging growing up for as long as she can. Although she acts as if she wants to have responsibility and become a grown up, she really wants to live as a kid for as long as possible. Though she is not able to live in blissful ignorance like some other kids who have that option, Buffy, too, wants to enjoy her life as it is. Somewhere inside herself she knows that things will not work out with Angel and that, with him, she would not be able to raise a family or lead any semblance of a normal life but she is intent on denying these realities for as long as possible. This is the true monster that Buffy is forced to wrestle with in this episode.
ReplyDeleteSomething that stuck out at me from this episode was the moment when all of Buffy's classmates were yelling out all of the weird things that had happened in Sunnydale. This scene brought up the main issue that I had with this show: its inconsistencies. At the beginning of the first season, Giles had brought up how many people, when confronted with something that they do not know or are uncomfortable with, simply deny that it happened. In this episode, however, the students reveal that yes, they were fully aware of all the monsters that Buffy had battled. I'm not sure if this had been explained in the episodes that we skipped but it left me feeling thoroughly confused.
I actually disagree that this episode was a “light relief” after watching “The Wish”. I found it to be just as upsetting, if not more so because of the aspect of Buffy and Angel’s relationship coming to an end. It is sad that these two love each other so much, yet aren’t able to be together because of Angel being a vampire. Though the trouble in their relationship is Angel being dead and not being able to provide Buffy with the things she will want in life someday, I think the vampire aspect is a metaphor for this similar end that happens in many relationships. In real life the obstacle obviously isn’t a vampire, but it presents the same impact. The part that had the most impact for me was when Xander paid for Cordelia’s dress. I thought it was a very sweet and loving gesture for Xander to do that, after he saw a different side of Cordelia being vulnerable. It was a substantial end to their feud after the ending of their relationship, allowing them to go on as being friends, or at least their relationship before they dated. The major conflict within the episode for me was the struggle for Buffy wanting to enjoy her life in the future as well as teenage life now by going to events such as prom, though also wanting to have Angel. The conflict between these two wants creates the issue of which one she should choose since she isn’t able to have both. This conflict plays into the idea that when growing up Buffy is going to have to make many different decisions, most being extremely important since she is the slayer, and they are all going to be difficult. Though when you stick with the right one, you can be rewarded, such as when all of her classmates present her with an award at the end of the episode.
ReplyDeleteI thought this was one of the better episodes we have seen. It is a mostly serious episode, and it includes some very emotional moments, like when Buffy and Angel are dancing at the end. What stood out to me in this episode is when Buffy asks the guy who is planning to release the hellhounds why he wants to ruin the happiest night of a senior’s life. He doesn’t respond, but they show a flashback of him getting rejected asking a girl to prom. I thought this moment is what makes Buffy unique, that the whole motive of the main villain in the episode is described in about five seconds. Every other show would have the back-story on the villain, and most Buffy episodes do, but sometimes the evil plot isn’t what’s important. The main conflict in the episode is Buffy and Angel’s relationship. Although at times Buffy thinks it can last, she knows it has to end. But in her mind, Angel ends in prematurely. She starts to realize that this was the right decision, and her years of being a high-schooler are over. Her journey to adulthood is just beginning, and Angel makes her recognize that she has to start looking to the future. Up until this point she has only thought about the present, but going to college means thinking about the rest of her life.
ReplyDeleteI agree “The Prom” was a breath of uplifting air. I like the development of Buffy’s dealing with Angel breaking up with her. At first she’s devastated, as one would expect, but she is mature and thinks about it. She realizes that Angel, and ultimately her mom, is right, and she and Angel can’t stay together forever. The acknowledgment that someone else is right, even when what they’re right about hurts, shows Buffy’s maturity. The drama in this episode was the Prom. This was their last chance as high school seniors to have a normal, fun teenage night. Buffy does everything in her power to make it so, and she succeeds. At her old high school she might have been the Prom queen, but at Sunnydale she receives a more meaningful award. While I liked the award, it did come as a surprise, because I didn’t realize that the students knew about the supernatural happenings in Sunnydale. One of the reasons I especially liked it was because Buffy finally got the recognition she deserves. It’s not nearly enough to account for the numerous times she has prevented an apocalypse, but we see that the token means a lot to her. This episode showed that Buffy can handle herself well, and I think she’ll do fine in college.
ReplyDeleteTo be quite honest, i was rather surprised when i read in your episode review that you viewed "The Prom" as an uplifting and light episode. possibly due to my evident soft spot for Buffy and Angel's relationship, i found this episode upsetting at more than one part. first off, when Joyce went to see Angel and tell him her opinion of his and Buffy's relationship, i could only think of what Buffy would say to her mother if she ever found out! having provoked the heartbreak to follow, i can't imagine any sort of painless forgiveness. another dismal scene is the actual break up itself. we can see that Buffy is registering the logic of the split and how Angel is offering her a more normal life, but the heartbreak is unbearable.
ReplyDeletealthough i dont totally agree with this episode being presented as a "welcome, light relief," there are some parts that i found rather sunny. for example, when Buffy received the award as the class protector, i couldn't help but feel happy for her, knowing she was recognized by her peers for all the times she's saved their skins. another obviously uplifting part was Angel's incredibly romantic appearance at the prom. this also showed a maturity between them which i cant remember recognizing before. they know they still love each other, but they also know that they need to be apart. they allow themselves to put all of that aside for one night of happiness, of normalcy, of love.
ReplyDeleteProm is a fun, light episode in a lot of ways. We get to see everyone with their dates, the Hell Hounds are pretty ridiculous monsters, and Giles reaction to Wesley is really funny. But we do see Angel breaking up with Buffy, in an almost classic teenage movie way. And while Buffy can clearly handle the Hell Hounds, the real problem is her breakup. She's devastated when she talks to Willow afterwards, and we see that even a tough slayer like Buffy can be hurt by a break up, which is actually something that happens to teenagers fairly often. I think this episode shows some of the ups and downs of relationships. I like the part of this episode when Buffy does actually get close to her perfect high school moment, when she's at prom and she gets to dance with Angel and is awarded class protecter. Wanting a perfect high school moment is something that many of us can relate to and I think the way they showed this and the fact that Buffy finally got to experience it is a great part of this episode.
I really enjoyed this episode because the mystical elements of the show took a back seat to Buffy’s real life. It side stepped having Buffy dealing with her vampire problems to deal with her actual problems, like her relationship with Angel and her relationship with her friends. Obviously with Angel the conflict is the fact that they are star-crossed lovers that could never truly be together, but the less obvious problem with her friends is that she’ll never be like them. In this episode, she separated herself from them in order to give them the prom they deserved, and I think Buffy realized that they will always be in danger because of her, and the only way Buffy can ensure their happiness and safety is if she steps away. Here it was a brief moment and she was able to join them, but it can’t always be that way. In this episode, there were no more distractions for Buffy, no more monsters and vampires to divert her attention from her personal problems. I think the moment when everyone rewards Buffy for what she has done was a very interesting moment, because I was expecting it to be a Carrie type situation where she would be ridiculed and embarrassed after receiving her award, but this was a genuine gesture and really gave both the viewer and Buffy some validation, because now it’s clear that Buffy and Co. weren’t the only ones aware of what great and essential things Buffy did for her school and community. I am always shocked that no one seems to know or remember what happens in this show week to week, and the speech made about the award was somewhat of a pay off for the viewer to know that this community is somewhat aware of what happens.
ReplyDeleteThis episode stands out to me. At first, it is all about the complicated relationship between Buffy and Angel. He has to break up with her and this destroys her happiness and self-confidence she had been feeling. But, as the episode continues, Buffy starts to show what is great about her. What allows her to fight demons everyday and still be a lighthearted teenager. She is able to be independent, modest and rational all at the same time. She does all the work in this episode, not allowing Giles, Xander or Willow to help her as they usually do. She tracks does the hellhound wrangler and tackles him and his demons quite handily. She drags the dead hellhounds that unfortunately don’t disappear in a semi bad feat of CGI and buries them herself in the woods. She becomes a very selfless person, a person that everyone should look up to. As of yet She, and the viewers, have thought that her work went unnoticed. How she saved the lives of Sunnydale’s citizens daily didn’t seem to dawn on any normal folks just yet. The kids at the SHS finally show their appreciation and give her the however cheesy “Class Protector” award. She finally receives the recognition she deserves, and perhaps needs to keep going.
ReplyDeleteThe episode "The Prom" is a mixture of light moments and fairly serious parts. Giles' reaction to Wesley's blubbering was funny, while Angel and Buffy's break up was heartbreaking. As we have talked about many times before, the big monster problems are solved easily in this episode. The real focus of it is the more emotional side of Buffy's life. Though Buffy has had to grow up fast already, the end of the year approaches so Buffy is starting to realize the meaning of graduation and what that holds. Unlike in most vampire movies and TV shows now, there is no hope for Angel and Buffy because there is now way for her to be a vampire. It would completely turn the show upside down. Buffy must have a future, if she doesn't die first. The part that stood out to me in this episode was was Cordelia's part in the episode. Her entire character is put to the test as she faces the fact that while yesterday she could afford to have her pick of any college, now she can't even afford a prom dress. Xander reaches out to her with a refreshing kindness. Cordelia acts mean and unapproachable, but she is just like any other girl who wants to have her turn to dance in the fancy gym with the guy she likes, just like Buffy wants for herself.
ReplyDeleteI'm surprised you didn't put this quote up there, "What whole thing? Isn't this the stuff that I'm supposed to get invested in? Going to a formal, graduating, growing up." -Buffy, in regards to going to prom with Angel. I feel like that quote sums the whole episode up. It creates the conflict between being involved with the stereotypical qualities of growing up in high school (prom, graduating), and dealing with the actual real responsibilities in the meantime. However, the fact that Buffy defeats the episode's evil so quickly shows that the two sides of life can coexist. You can be a teenager while balancing the responsibilities of an adult. Cordelia's situation in the episode is a great real life example of the metaphor of the hellhounds. Working an adult job in order to get a dress for the dance is another excellent depiction of balancing the two worlds, showing, once again, that as long as you deal with the responsibility, having fun in your youth CAN exist as a life possibility. This conflict doesn't end with graduating, though, but will continue throughout college and even adulthood.
ReplyDeleteOn a side note, what stuck out to me was the gratification of Sunnydale's students recognizing Buffy as the protecter. It just gave me a sense of justice to her endless struggle of dire anonymity.
Buffy proves time and time again she can save the world on her own but some of the best episodes are when the people around her come together to help and appreciate her. Even Spike could recognize that she was the one who could do what he wanted done. And the moment that Buffy realizes that it isn't all pointless, that people do notice, and that she is doing some good, that's when I think it becomes personal for her. This isn't just her job, the job she never wanted. This is her fight, and she's gonna win, not for herself but for the people she loves. There's not a single episode in the show that is about Buffy saving Buffy; everything she does and risks is for other people. You can see in her eyes how much it means to her to be the Class Protector. It's one of the episodes that still makes me cry. Her only distraction from the heartbreaking departure of Angel is preserving the Prom for everyone else, but this time, she gets the response she has always deserved. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the element of realism introduced in the episode, especially in regards to the focus placed upon Buffy’s conflict with typical high school issues. Buffy’s desire to participate in the normal high school experience, if only for a night, overtly displays a prominent theme in the series. It was interesting to see Buffy in a setting where she was not viewed in a reproachful manner by her classmates, and was instead revered to a considerable extent. This allowed Buffy to come to the realization that despite her drastically altered lifestyle, she is still a teenage girl sharing many of the overbearing desires of a young adult. By being allowed to lead a normal life for a short period of time, Buffy is brought back from the existential state that she has lived in for a prolonged period of time. Giles’ desire for Buffy to have a “normal” night speak volumes about his character as well, and display his growing tendency to not view Buffy as a one dimensional individual, or just not as an individual at all.
ReplyDeleteBuffy's main conflict throughout the episode is not really the monsters (who are dealt with easily) but the struggle of coming to terms with her breakup with Angel and wanting the perfect high school prom experience. Of course, though, this isn't quite possible since she must first save the rest of the school from a rejected student's anger and pack of hell hounds. She manages to do both and still have a night with her friends, showing that balance between the two, while difficult, is possible. However, Buffy will never be a completely normal teenager since she is always having to save others from danger. It is nice to see her classmates finally take notice of this and appreciate what she has done for them.
ReplyDelete